Page 22 of My Wild Pet

My master gently cups my head in his hands. His touch is gentle but firm, and I tense, unsure of his intentions. He begins undoing the muzzle on my face while the other man approaches me with a round metallic device.

I don’t know what’s happening until it’s too late. The moment the device clasps around my neck, a searing wave of pain radiates through my body. It feels like a thousand needles stabbing me from the inside out, pulsing from the collar that now binds me. I scratch frantically at it, my nails hopelessly grazing the smooth metal.

The man with the big eyes says something to me. I don’t need to understand the words to feel the venom in his tone. His voice is cold and cruel. Then the pain comes, worse than what I felt from Big and Tiny’s punches. It shoots through me like fire, leaving me trembling uncontrollably in my master’s arms even after it subsides.

My master speaks then, his voice softer than Kaelin’s, but no less commanding. “Kaelin,” he says, pointing to the other man. Then, gesturing to himself, he says, “Aefre.” His green eyes lock onto mine, and for a brief moment, I think he’s trying to establish something—trust, maybe? Then he asks me my name.

My throat is dry, and it takes several tries to swallow enough to even form the words. My fingers curl around the hated collar as I say hoarsely, “Briar.”

Aefre and Kaelin exchange a few words in their alien language. Then Aefre points at me. “Ash,” he says firmly.

My blood runs cold.Oh, hell no.I point to myself defiantly. “Briar,” I say louder.

Aefre calmly raises his hand, the pink glow of his ring catching my eye. Before I can react, he presses it. Pain crashesthrough me like a storm, overwhelming every nerve in my body. My limbs jerk uncontrollably, and I can’t even scream. It’s like being electrocuted; every fiber of my being consumed by agony.

When the punishment finally stops, I’m left gasping for air and my body shaking from the punishment I just endured.

Aefre points to me again.

I swallow my pride and force the word out through clenched teeth. “Ash.”

Inside, I make a vow.When I get out of here—and I will get out of here—I’ll be Briar again. My name is the only thing I have left from my parents.

But Aefre isn’t done. He hovers his finger over his glowing ring once more. I barely have time to panic before he touches it again. But this time, instead of pain, a wave of intense warmth floods my body. It’s pleasure so strong and sudden, that it leaves me breathless and confused. My muscles relax involuntarily, and I fight the urge to smile. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction.

Aefre pats me on the head like I’m an obedient dog. My humiliation is complete when he attaches a leash to my collar and hands it to Kaelin.

Is he selling me to Kaelin?No. No, I can’t go withhim. Kaelin’s cold demeanor terrifies me. Aefre, for all his control, feels less cruel. I pull against the leash as Kaelin tries to lead me away.

I manage to break free and sprint back toward Aefre. Without hesitation, I throw myself at his booted feet, wrapping my arms around his legs.

“Don’t sell me,” I beg. “Please, don’t sell me to him. I want to stay with you.”

Aefre pries me off of him with the help of Kaelin. Then Kaelin throws me over his shoulder my ass high in the air.

I protest. And for that he smacks my ass a few times as we’re walking away from Aefre. My butt cheeks sting but it still doesn’t’ stop me from yelling, “No!”

Kaelin smacks me again.

“Aefre!” I say, my hands outstretched as if I might catch him again. But I can’t see him anymore as the doors have hissed closed.

Once it’s clear that I have to stay with Kaelin, I stop struggling. Whatever is going to happen to me, I don’t want to make it any worse.

Kaelin carries me into a room and the delicious smell of food hits me first. My stomach growls. Spotting chairs and a table, I resist when he directs me to sit on the cold metal floor instead. I glance at the chairs, but my hunger proves stronger than my dignity. Resigned, I settle onto the floor.

Kaelin produces a bowl filled with what looks like rice and meat, and the sight and smell of something so delicious and familiar overwhelm me.

But he holds it out of reach, speaking in that harsh, alien tongue.

All I want is the food.

I watch him closely, trying to guess what he wants me to do. Should I bark? Meow? The thought sparks a flash of sarcasm, and I say, “Feed me!” Wrong move.

He swats my backside, hard enough to make me gasp. Apparently, English isn’t allowed with Kaelin either, which I find strange because wouldn’t English be my “pet” language? Like a cat meows.

Kaelin repeats a single word over and over, expecting me to parrot him.

I try to shape the alien syllables, but hunger makes it difficult to concentrate. After what feels like a hundred attempts, he nods in satisfaction and hands me the bowl. I grab it with both hands and then begin shoveling the food into my mouth as though it might vanish at any second.